Two of the favourites to win the Spalding League this year played each other, in what could already be the match of the season.
Tigers C came out on top, beating Consti A 6-3 but it could easily have been 6-3 the other way. After going 2-1 up in the pairs, singles wins for Simon Hill, Mark Horspool, Ant Richardson, and Duncan Hunt sealed victory. Wins for Consti came from Sam Roberts and Nick Moyses.
The high standard started in the pairs with Hill and Horspool winning their game in 17 and 18 darts. Game of the night saw Horspool beat Chris Fidler 2-1. Fidler had a 15-dart leg and a 180, Horspool had two 180s and a 13-dart leg. The next game saw the standard get even better with Richardson hitting a 180 and a 12-dart leg. Moyses had a 17-dart leg and a 115 check out for Consti.
Rose and Crown edged a tight game against Lincoln A 5-4. The work was done early after they won two of the pairs and then three of the first four singles games, thanks to Gary Mace, Dan Carnell and James Truman. Lincoln’s winners were Luke Rhodes, Steve Stancer and Ted Howling.
Rhodes and Ben Chester both hit 180s and Stancer and Carnell both had 18-dart legs.
Another 5-4 game saw Consti E edge out Drayman’s A. Again, the pairs proved decisive with Consti going 2-1 up before singles wins for Jason Chilvers and Dan Gent with Paul Merrill winning the last game to take the victory. Drayman’s wins came from Kev Newton, Richard Cooper and Josh Grainger.
In Division Two, Green Dragon A beat Ye Olde Abbey 7-2. After going 2-1 up in the pairs they won five out of six singles thanks to Jamie Robson, Scott Williams, Tim Hester, Sam Brackenbury and Dan Martin. Sole winner for the Abbey in the singles was Scott Lawrence, who hit a 157 check-out in his victory with an 18-dart leg. Brackenbury and Hester both hit 180s and PDC Williams hit an 18 and 16-dart leg in his singles win.
Mail Cart A had a 5-4 win against Drayman’s B, which went down to the last game where Paul Faulkner beat Graham French. Other singles wins for Mail Cart were from Jacob Herd, Steve Rawding, and Harry Faulkner. Singles winners for Drayman’s came from Wigs Harrison and Dan Merrill. Rawding and Josh Faulkner both hit 180s, Harry Faulkner hit a 126 check-out and both Herd and Rawding hit 17-dart legs in their victories.
Tigers B beat Ship (Long Sutton) 7-2 after winning all three pairs to go with singles wins for Tyger Atkin, Richard Brooks and Mark Robinson, with and Phil Horspool sealing victory. Robinson hit a 112 check-out. The singles winners for the Ship were Brad Martin and Tom Semper.
In Division Three, Lincoln B had a narrow 5-4 win against Green Dragon B. After going 2-1 down in the pairs, singles wins for Lesley Chamberlain, Nigel Goodwin, Mark McKay and John Charlton sealed success. Charlton went on last and beat Finn Mottram 2-0 to get the victory. Goodwin had a 180 and an 18-dart leg in his victory.
Consti D beat Mail Cart B 6-3 thanks to singles wins from John Robinson, Steve Emery, Lewis Turner and Ady Smith. Andy Taylor and Carl Kirk were the only singles winners for Mail Cart. Taylor had a 101 check-out and Robinson had a 108 check-out.
Holbeach United Services romped to a 9-0 victory against Punchbowl B, only losing two legs all night. Mike Ocock hit a 180 and Chris Chamberlain had an 18-dart leg as did Ocock and Stu Stephens in their pairs victory.
n An enjoyable social evening was held at Spalding Services Club for the Hereward Sports Pinchbeck & District Summer League Mixed Pairs, Captains’ and Ladies’ Cup events.
Nineteen couples contested the Mixed Pairs and it was Lincoln Arms D players Dan Gent and Stacey Banister and father and daughter duo Jason and Eydee Chilvers who qualified for finals night.
A poor turn out for the Captains’ Cup saw only seven entries but Stu Page from the Royal Mail Cart and Lincoln Arms A’s Steve Stancer are through to the final.
Making it a good night for the Lincoln Arms D in the Ladies’ Cup, teammates Eva Spinks and Stacey Banister will contest the final.
Thanks were expressed to Ian Tilley for his help on the night and the Services Club for hosting the event.
